You asked about the requirement and procedures for registering as a lobbyist in Connecticut. If there is a fee, you want to know the amount.

SUMMARY

An individual or organization that (1) communicates with or solicits others to communicate with an official or staff in the legislative or executive branch of state government to influence any legislative or administrative action and (2) receives or spends (or agrees to receive or spend) at least $ 2,000 in a calendar year for lobbying must register as a lobbyist.

The two classes of lobbyists are client lobbyists and communicator lobbyists. A client lobbyist lobbies on its own behalf, while a communicator lobbyist does so on behalf of one or more client lobbyists. Both kinds register once every two years and pay a $ 150 fee for the entire period.

Information on the requirements and a link to register on-line is at the State Ethics Commission's website at Lobbyist Registration Information.

CLIENT LOBBYIST

A client lobbyist is an individual, business, corporation, union, association, firm, partnership, committee, club, or other organization or group of people, which, on its own behalf, spends or agrees to spend $ 2,000 or more in any calendar year for administrative or legislative lobbying and activities in furtherance of lobbying. In Connecticut, lobbying is generally defined as "communicating directly or soliciting others to communicate with any official or his staff in the legislative or executive branch of government or in a quasi-public agency, for the purpose of influencing any legislative or administrative action" (CGS § 1-91(k)).

Each client lobbyist must register with the Ethics Commission every two years by January 15th of odd-numbered years or prior to the commencement of lobbying, whichever is later. There is a $ 150 registration fee. A client lobbyist which begins lobbying in an even-numbered year must register with the Ethics Commission by January 15th of the even-numbered year or prior to the commencement of lobbying, whichever is later, and must pay a $ 75, one-year registration fee.

Each client lobbyist must also file financial reports of lobbying activities with the State Ethics Commission.

COMMUNICATOR LOBBYIST

A communicator lobbyist is an individual or business organization that, on behalf of one or more client lobbyists, receives or agrees to receive compensation, reimbursement, or both, totaling $ 2,000 or more in any calendar year for administrative or legislative lobbying and lobbying-related activities.

Each individual communicator lobbyist and each member of a business organization communicator lobbyist is required to register with the Ethics Commission every two years by January 15th of odd- numbered years or prior to the commencement of lobbying, whichever is later. The fee requirement for communicator lobbyists is the same as for client lobbyists: $ 150 per person for a two-year period. For an individual communicator lobbyist or a member of a business organization communicator lobbyist that begins lobbying in an even-numbered year, the fee is $ 75 for one year.

Each individual and each business organization must also file reports of lobbying activities with the State Ethics Commission.

A communicator lobbyist registered for a governmental entity or quasi-public agency must register on a communicator lobbyist form but must also file special monthly and quarterly reports in accordance with the client lobbyist's reporting schedule.

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